“I tend to get one a year,” said Cochrane, who scored five in five seasons in Major League Soccer before joining the San Antonio Scorpions for their inaugural season.

He'll have at least that many this season after redirecting Jonathan Greenfield's free kick into the net with a delicate header in the 75th minute, providing the clinching goal in the Scorpions' 2-0 victory over FC Edmonton on Saturday at Heroes Stadium.

Greenfield, pressed into emergency duty at left back, also converted a first-half penalty kick. Scorpions striker Pablo Campos drew the foul despite appearing to have shoved an Edmonton defender in pursuit of the ball.

There was no doubt about Cochrane's goal, however. His flick-on inside the far post following a strong run brought an artful touch to a match that was anything but.

Playing without injured striker Hans Denissen, against an opponent seeking to serve long balls into the box, the Scorpions (4-1-2, 14 points) struggled to engineer their typical possession.

That didn't prevent them from extending their unbeaten streak to five matches, including four straight victories.

“Winning breeds winning,” Scorpions manager Tim Hankinson said. “The players are starting to realize they can do the job.”

San Antonio recorded its third clean sheet in four matches, limiting the Eddies (2-4-1, seven points) to seven shots and no significant chances.

The Scorpions will play the Laredo Heat at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Blossom Athletic Center in the second round of the U.S. Open Cup before meeting Edmonton again next Sunday. A victory over Laredo would give them a home match against MLS side Houston on May 29.

“Personally, I would be thrilled to play Houston,” said Cochrane, who appeared in 18 matches for the Dynamo in 2009-10. “But first things first.”

Hankinson said Denissen, the team's second-leading scorer with two goals, should be available for Tuesday's match after straining a hamstring Friday in practice.

“He brings such an intelligent element,” Hankinson said. “You notice how important he is (when he sits).”